Chapter 30.1- The Seadragon's Roar

XXXX- LAENOR VELARYON— 109 AC (BLOODSTONE)

“So what do we do now? We’ve won” Laena said, looking around the table. Daemon’s absence was loud now that there was np impending battle to take our minds off of it. A Prince of the Blood had been killed under our watch.

“I shall fly Daemon’s body to King’s Landing on the Morrow” Mother said, looking out the window. I felt Daemon was better off dead than alive as far as my interests were concerned, but I had been the only one who’d thought that.

For all his carelessness and the fact that he had conspired to steal her throne, he was Mother’s cousin still. It probably said something about her that she never held a grudge against Daemon and Viserys for pushing their claim at the Great Council. All her rage had been left for the Lords who hadn’t supported her rather than those who had won.. It was healthy in its own way.

But it did mean she was now mourning a man who did not deserve even a second of her consideration.

“And the two of you will come with me. It is time you be introduced at Court, and it will seem disrespectful for House Velaryon to not show their respects to the fullest extent.”

“But we have so much to do here. What if the Triarchy attack again?” I asked.

“We just burned near three hundred ships between them and Dorne. The war will still be here when we return, Laenor. If they want to attack, they will find themselves faced with a much bolstered Velaryon fleet. How many ships did you say you succeeded in capturing again?”

“Five and fifty.” I admitted.

“Good. So trust in our fleet to keep our interests safe. We must do this. There will already be questions asked about his demise, it is best if we are on hand to answer them but as we can.” She said. I nodded. I could see her point at least, but it felt weird to leave things the way they were here. We hadn’t concluded things, hadn’t forged the stepstones into an Empire and I would be leaving.

“Yes Mother” Laena said. Rhaenys turned to me expectantly and I nodded as well.

“Good, now call Ser Ben in. It’s time we get our stories straight. Expect that we will be questioned separately and together on different parts of the story. We must make sure it is all beyond question.” She said.

“And Pate’s body? Is there a need to bring it with us as well?” I asked. Maybe it would matter somewhat to Viserys.

“Viserys is not a man that takes joy in gore. He will be fine with the knowledge that the person who did it is dead and the testimony of the maester to that effect” She said, and I would take her word for that. If I were the one, I would want a head at the very least, but she knew Viserys better than I did.